Nutrients for Phase 2 Detoxification

Question 1

Folic Acid

Answer 1

Sources: dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage family, organ meat

Actions: Coenzyme form is an intermediate carrier for methylation conjugation.

Question 2

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Answer 2

Sources: dairy, meats, dark green leafy vegetables

Actions: Needed for glutathione production. Provides energy for Phase II conjugation.

Question 3

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Answer 3

Sources: milk, meat, dark green leafy vegetables

Actions: Needed for the enzyme glutathione reductose.

Question 4

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Answer 4

Sources: meat,eggs, poultry, fish, whole grains

Actions: Needed for recycling glutathione, a phase II conjugate.

Question 5

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

Answer 5

Sources: nuts,meats, whole grains, green vegetables, potatoes

Actions: Bound to co enzyme A, a carrier of acetyl groups. Essential in acetylation conjugations of several classes of chemicals. Also important in deamination processes, which detoxify organic compounds containing nitrogen.

Question 6

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Answer 6

Sources: meats, vegetables, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, potatoes

Actions: Required for metabolism of methionine to glutathione. A deficiency of B6 slows methylation conjugation.

Question 7

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)

Answer 7

Sources: meat, dairy products, eggs, spirulina, chlorella.

Actions: Coenzyme form participates in methylation reaction.

Question 8

Vitamin C

Answer 8

Sources: fruits, green vegetables, tomatoes

Actions: Quenches free radicals produced by Phase I.

Question 9

Germanium

Answer 9

Sources: garlic, Shiitake mushrooms, onions

Actions: Raises glutathione levels for Phase II detoxification, increases oxygen utilization at cell levels, and is a free radical scavenger. Helps with toxic metal detoxification.

Question 10

Magnesium

Answer 10

Sources: nuts, legumes, dark green vegetables, beans.

Actions; Needed for glutathione production and activates many detoxification enzymes. The enzyme methyl transferase requires magnesium.

Question 11

Manganese

Answer 11

Sources: leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, bananas, beans

Actions: Required for glutathione production, as well as by many different enzymes.

Question 12

Molybdenum

Answer 12

Sources: whole grains, legumes, seeds.

Actions: Helps in synthesis and use of sulfur amino acids, is a component of detoxification enzymes, and is necessary for utilization of vitamin C at cell level.

Question 13

Selenium

Answer 13

Sources: brewer’s yeast, garlic, liver, eggs

Actions: Is in the enzyme glutathione peroxide, necessary for detoxification.

Question 14

Sulfur

Answer 14

Sources: garlic, eggs, onions, meats, beans, cheese, peanuts

Actions: Necessary for sulfur conjugation. Because of its high sulfur content, garlic is very helpful in removing heavy metals.

Question 15

Zinc

Answer 15

Sources: shellfish, meats, dairy, pumpkin seeds

Actions: In enzymes necessary for conjugation

Question 16

Cysteine

Answer 16

Sources: eggs, meats, onion family

Actions: Detoxifies pesticides, plastics, hydrocarbons, and other chemicals.

Question 17

D-glucarate

Answer 17

Sources: most vegetables, but high concentrations in oranges, apples, grapefruit, and cruciferous vegetables

Actions: Helps convert xenobiotics to water-soluble compounds. During Phase II detoxification,
chemical carcinogens, steroid hormones, and other lipid-soluble toxins are conjugated with glucuronic acid
in the liver (glucuronidation), and excreted through the biliary tract. Beta-glucuronidase is capable of
deconjugating these potential toxins, making it possible for them to be reabsorbed rather than excreted. D-glucaro-1,4-lactone
is the metabolite that has been shown to inhibit beta-glucuronidase activity, increasing
excretion of conjugated xenobiotic compounds and decreasing activity of harmful substances that are most active in their deconjugative state.

Question 18

Glycine

Answer 18

Sources: whole grains, meats, dairy

Actions: Stimulates production of glutathione. Also aids in detoxification of benzoic acid and phenol.

Question 19

L-glutathione (reduced form)

Answer 19

Sources: produced in the body from cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine

Actions: Increases water solubility of xenobiotics, enabling excretion through urine.

Question 20

N-acetyl-cysteine (precursor to glutathione)

Answer 20

Sources: supplement required

Actions: Converted by the body to cysteine, produce glutathione

Question 21

Taurine

Answer 21

Sources: meats, seafood

Actions: Needed for acylation reaction.